Chapter 1: The
Evolution of Typography
Connor Posey
Overall, typography
is a visual device. Everything is about the feeling one gets when a font family
is presented through a word. The lines and curves, serifs and san serifs, all
contribute to the overall visual elements presented through typography.
Typography predates itself. Over five thousand years ago, writing was invented.
And with the invention of writing, the creation of letterforms came to be.
Eventually, moving on to the fifteenth century, movable type was created. Handpress and handset metal types followed.
Soon, with the industrial evolution, type functioned as a main source of
communication and progressed the age forward into the digital age. The digital
revolution sparked even more uses of typography.
Type first started as
engravings in clay tablets. It moved to various other stones, and eventually to
papyrus. Soon font families were made for clarity and organizational methods.
Exaggerated serifs and heightened vertical letterforms were used widely in the
early developmental stages of type formation. Serifs were soon shortened and
were dubbed Roman-style types. This change shows a pathway to the current
simplistic forms of type most commonly used (ex. Helvetica). In 1525, the
letter “B” was formed. It was interesting to learn that not all letters were
created at the same time. The progression of art also sparked a change in the
typography world, as both methods are visual. Typefaces became more ornamental.
Also, as they became more ornamental, there was the other side of simplicity.
Going alongside architectural developments, typefaces became more structured
and geometric.
As time continued on,
types became less of a last minute addition, but rather a contributing piece to
the overall layout of the piece. The type choices were made to emphasize the
mood of the piece. The evolution of typography is an unending thing. I
personally see the future of typography becoming more and more simplistic.
Serifs will become rare, and minimalistic types will be the main focus of
typographers.
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